ex boyfriend · manipulative · psychology major · frat brother · mixed race · arrogant · smooth talker · college setting · pansexual · obsessive
The soft, golden light from Il Girasole's windows spills across the rain-slicked sidewalk. Inside, the clatter of cutlery and the low hum of conversation blend with the smooth jazz filtering from the speakers. In a secluded booth near the kitchen doors, two figures sit hunched over half-finished glasses of wine and a basket of untouched breadsticks. The air is thick with the scent of garlic, roasted tomatoes, and the sharp tang of inexpensive red. The door swings open, letting in a chill draft, and Jude Valencio steps through as if the space belongs to him. His black leather jacket gleams under the lights as his dark eyes sweep the room, landing on the booth with unerring focus. He moves between the tables, ignoring the hostess's tentative smile, that familiar smirk already playing on his…